preparing to winterize house

**oheoh's momma** · 05-17-2011, 02:58 PM

New house small budget.. Lots of windows to cover for cheap this winter and a small budget. Help me it is drafty.

**pollypurebred39** · 05-17-2011, 05:04 PM

DIY Drop Cloth Curtains with a Twist

Shell's Shabby Shack: Ruffled Drop Cloth Curtains-Tutorial

Dropcloth Drapes ? The Lettered Cottage

Dropcloth Curtains ? Infarrantly Creative

Drop Cloth Curtains and Paintings | The Picky Apple

Drop Cloth Curtains for my Patio | Beneath My Heart

Making Using Installing Homemade Window Quilts by Sue Robishaw

Making Old-Time Window Quilts | Lehman's Country Life

Econogics Removable Window Insulation (quilts, polystyrene, etc.)

You can do the same kind of thing with sheets as drop cloths, although they won't be as warm. IKEA carries sheets for $1-$2 a piece.

**Ramona** · 05-17-2011, 07:49 PM

I don't know where you live, but check WalMart if possible. Maybe online. Now's the time that Frost King puts it's item on clearance due to the coming good weather:

We put these on the windows every fall, and don't bother shrinking them with a hairdryer. The drapes hide them.

Also: window quilts. I found a wonderful post here at FV saying fleece could be cut and pinned. Next year I'm doing fleece over Frost King for the patio doors.Frost King also sells patio door sized plastic. The front door has a double panel of the fleece on a flat rod to pull aside for access.

The link to joann.com is not spam, it's just the overeager FV spam filter

.

Joann.com often had this fleece on 1/2 price:
Blizzard Fleece Solids - MANY COLORSspam! It is better fried than typed: blizzard fleecespam! It is better fried than typed: fleece fabricspam! It is better fried than typed: fabricspam! It is better fried than typed: Shop | Joann.com

I got 10 yards at half price for the front door and patio doors.

**lisaflex** · 05-17-2011, 08:13 PM

we used to used the window plastic until we got new windows. we did always use the hairdryer...one year we didnt and felt a difference..it was draftier w/out having used it.

draft dodgers are helpful.

**oheoh's momma** · 05-17-2011, 08:29 PM

I am planning on doing curtains heavy and plastic.Curtains are really expensive. I have 4 large picture windows in the upstairs living room. MIL has patio doors plus 3 single windows that are drafty in her bedroom. 1 drafty window in downstairs living room .Kitchen door are made of glass and drafty. Priced curtains at walmart they were almost $4oo hubby about died.. going to do it this summer while work is good on the cheap.

**lisaflex** · 05-17-2011, 08:32 PM

i would look at thermal lined drapes/curtains......check JCPenney online for a sale! good luck

**frugalwarrior2** · 05-17-2011, 09:03 PM

I went to Salvation army and did quilts. Many were new as they buy Walmart clearance. If you want slit down the middle vertically and make rod pockets at the top voila' curtains!
If you look now you can match room colors easier and may find more clearance prices.

We also buy the window plastics at G.Sales for as low as .50 in the summer. good things come to those who shop off season.

**shoiji** · 05-17-2011, 09:18 PM

I have thermal curtains in the bedroom. The livingroom has inexpensive curtains with an off white heavy flannel (more like felting) blanket behind it. I bought the kingsize blankets at family dollar and cut them down to fit the sliding glass doors and window. I have blinds on the windows and sliding glass doors. So when the blinds are down and curtains drawn you would never know I have a blanket behind the cheap curtains. I keep them up all year round since it helps keep the heat out in summer. I purchased curtain holders with rings on them and clips. It really makes it easy to hang something behind a curtain you already have.

I would go the plastic on the windows but I enjoy being able to have open windows to air the place out.

Another idea is to use sheets of plastic bubble wrap on the windows. If you are concerned about the appearance you could use on windows that are not facing the street.

If you have a good thriftstore/yard sale around keep an eye out for any possible thermal curtains you can purchase. Now is really a good time to buy for your windows since they will be cheaper at the thriftstore.

Don't forget to caulk around window frames. Something inexpensive that can help.

**Judi Dial** · 05-19-2011, 07:15 AM

More ideas here...first place I've seen the idea of using space blankets...I may do this!

ENERGY BOOMER: WINDOWS

Judi

**oheoh's momma** · 05-19-2011, 11:51 AM

I like the space blanket idea I really have to do this on the cheap and work with what we have. we moved to a better neighborhood 3x the house size 1000sq feet to 3000 sg feet 3x as many windows. I think my whole budget for new/used curtains maybe a hundred dollars.